Qantas flight: Pilot seeks Los Angeles ‘priority’ landing after mechanical issue turns Brisbane flight around

A Qantas flight has been given ‘priority’ landing credentials after the pilot requested they return to Los Angeles following mechanical issues.

QF16 left Los Angeles Airport on Tuesday at around 8:30pm (PST) on a long-haul flight to Brisbane and was in the air for six hours before landing back at LAX.

The mechanical issue forced the flight to return to LA on Wednesday morning and they were given a priority landing rating, before touching down at around 2.30am.

The airline requested a priority landing but not an emergency landing, a Qantas spokesperson said in a statement to local news outlets.

“The pilots followed normal procedures and returned to LA,” the spokesperson said.

No injuries were reported and the aircraft will be inspected before returning to service, Qantas stated.

“Customers have been provided accommodation and have been rebooked on alternative flights today”.

Qantas has been contacted for further comments on the incident.